AirAsia CEO denies any plans of launching budget long-haul airline

Low-cost carrier AirAsia’s chief executive officer has ruled out plans of establishing a budget long-haul airline.

AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes scotched a report that the carrier’s management team was behind the new airline and would submit a business plan to the Government.

“It’s a preposterous idea,” Fernandes said, according to local media. “I’m ruling it out, I don’t see it happening, I don’t believe in the model.”

It was reported that Fernandes and his associates planned to launch the budget long-haul operator by early next year. One of the routes under consideration was the lucrative Kuala Lumpur to London route currently operated by Malaysia Airlines, it said. Fernandes said he had considered the idea some four years ago before his involvement in AirAsia, but had been advised it was better to start a short-haul airline.

“I have enough on my plate doing a short-haul airline,” he added.